Metallic link chain.



W. 0. STARK.

METALLIC LINK CHAIN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. zo, 191s,

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-.SHEET 1.

(VP I.

WIM/55555:

W. 0. STARK.

METALLIC LINK CHAIN.

APPLIcA'rIox num AUG. 20, 1913.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

sTArns PaTENT (511111013.A

WILLIAM o. STARK, oricmcaeo, ILLINOIS, AssIeNon To nULLocK 'raac'r'cmJ coMIANY, acoRPonA'rIoN or ILLINoIs.

METALLIC LINK CHAIN.

Application led August 2D, 1913.

' and State of Illinois, a citizen of the United pair of links.

States .of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Link Chains and Which are Especially' Well Adapted for Use in lthe Caterpillar Type of Tractors; and I do hereby declare that the following description of my said invention, taken in connection with the accompanying two sheets of drawings, forms a full, clear, and exact specification, which will enable others skilled in the art to which my said invention appertains to make 'and use the same.

One of the objects of this resent invention is the production of an e cient, serviceable, durable and comparatively inexpensive link-chain for use in caterpillar tractors, that can be readily applied to and removed from the machine, and that will resist the severe service to which such a link-chain is always subjected. i

Other objects of this invention will hereinafter fully appear. Y

This invention consists, essentially, in the novel' and peculiar combination of parts and details of construction as .hereinafter first fully set'forthand described and then pointed out in the claims.

In. the drawings already -referred to, which serve to :illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1l is a sectional elevation on line 2 2 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan on line 1-1 of Fig. '1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an eleva-v tion of a fragment of one of the .chain links. Fiir 5 is a side-elevation of oneof the caterpilIars, of a traction engine.vv Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of adjacent ends of a Like parts are designated by k the same character or symbol in all the various figures.' v-

' A- inl the drawings Fi .-.5-designates an endless metallic belt-which is trained overl two end-sprocket wheels 12, 13, mounted on shafts 14, 15, having bearings ina truck:

frame B of peculiar construction which y forms the subject matter of. an application for atent filed by me on the twentieth day of ugust 1913, Serial No. 785,673 andv to which reference may be had for ay full, and* Specication of Letters Patent.

detailedl disclosure of that invention, so that cation is deemed superfluous. This chainbelt A consists of a series of like links C so that a detailed description of one of these links will be applicable to all of said links. Each link comprises two parallel members, 16, 17, in spaced relation, the rear end of each member being curved at 18 as will hereinafter appear. Laterally projecting from the members 16, 17 and in alined relation there are tubular bosses, 19, 20, bored to receive a bolt or pintle 21, the head 22 of which abutsl the face of the boss 19, there being a key 23 adjacent this head engaging a keyway in the bore of said boss to prevent said bolt from rotating, while a pin 24, passing transversely through the pintle and boss .20 on the member. 17. prevents the pintle from being withdrawn from its as sembled position, the horizontal center line vof the bosses 19, I20, designated by thel dotted line 1-1 in Fig. 1, is located above -the Amedian horizontal line of the links the The forward end of the link includes two vertically, disposed walls 30--31 the outside to outsi 'e distance of which corresponds to inside distance of the sides 16-17, so that this forward endis adapted to be engaged by the rear end of the next succeeding link. This forward endvof each link is approximately circular -in contour; and 'projecting inwardly and opposing each other there are 'tubular bosses which aiiord bearings for the pintle 2].,l on which the links may oscillate. These bearings. vare eccentrica y located with reference to the outer contour of this end of the links.

The web 29 that connects the upper marginsof the side-members is continued over and'connects, the two forward verticalwalls 37, remote from the next adjacent as indicated atei. and is'integrally connectedto the lower web 25, thus forming a box-like structure which is adapted to lend stiffness and strength to the link without unduly increasing the weight thereof. The approximately circular end' of the link has, on account of this end notbeing a.com'plete'circle,"two `indentations 35, 36 the object of which will be later on referred to. `The lower web 25 and the side-extensions 26, 27 thereof, extend rearwardly a distance beyond or form a continuation of the'curved transverse wall as clearly indi- 'cated in Figs. 1 and 4, so that the space from the end of this continuation to the end of the upper web 29, forms an opening through which the rear end of the link may be passedover the forward end of the next succeeding link, not however, unless the link is iirst placed into a lposition shown at the right of Fig. 1, or approximately at an angle of 45 degrees. Now referring ,to Fig. 6, I will explain the peculiarity of this linkconnection, the ligure representing the forward end of one and th'erear end of the link when detached. The upper portion of this forward end is concentric to the pintle 21. or has their centers in common, but the remaining portions to the indentation 36 is Hence the diameter of this forward portion of the link on the line designated 38 is less than that on theline/marked 39. The distance at the rear end of the link -designated 39 is substantially equal to the distance 38 -so that when one link is at about an angle of 45 degrees to the adjacent end, these ends can be passed one intothe. other and the intle 21 inserted. IVhen the inclined'link 1s then I'turned downwardly the upper end 40 will follow the curvature of that portion having its center in the pintle, but the lower end 4l will a proach the curvature'having its. center at 3 so that when this end reaches the indentation 36, it will bear snugly agaiilnst the curved portion 34 of this adjacen alinement. It follows that the lower run of the complete chain -as shown in Fig.' 5

cannot be deflected upwardly from a straight line and that, therefore, all the weightand strain to whi' h this lower run of the chain is subjected will not causean' upward deflection of the lower run, thus obviating the necessity of providing "bearers for this chain although, if so desired bearing rollers 42, may be provided Awhen the load upon the chain is rather excessive.l The operation of this. caterpillar drive is effected through a rocket wheel -43 and suitable mechanism which forms the subject matter of a separate particularly well drawn from a center center of the pintle.. .pintle constructed to connect link and the two links will then be' inapplication forLetters Patent, and will lnot,

therefore, be herein described. j;-

While I have hereinbefore shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire it understood that many minor changes in the details of construction maybe made,

the saine without,

shown but may change the scope -of the 1. A link chain comprising a series of like links each ofl said links having. a main and Ido not, therefore,wish to confine myself to the precise construction' portion of substantial tubular rectangular shape comprising two side-walls invparallel spaced relation, a curved transverse wall near one end connectingsaid side walls, a bottom web projecting beyond, and forming a continuation of, said. side-walls, an upper web projecting beyond and forming a continuation of said curved transverse wall, and

a forward contracted portion having an approximately circular contour the periphf ery of whichhas dierent centers' there being at the rear end tubular, outwardly pro-` jecting bosses andA at the forward end inbosses, and a the rear end of one link to the forward end of the next adjacent link, as described.

2. A metallic chain adapted for use in ythe caterpillar type of tractors, comprising a series of pivotally connectedflinks, each link consisting of a main portionlhaving an open wardly projecting tubular 'rear end, the 'outer contour, ofwhich isvapproxiiii'ately semicircular 'and ya boxlike front end the outercontour .of which vis approximately circular but. having two different radii, there being .at `the junction of the front end and the main body depressions, and a intle constructed to connect the front F one link to the rear succeeding link, having members,

" are constructed toengage the lower depresend of the next the rear vend of said link the lower ones -o'fl which sions in .the forwardend when the lower run of the chain assumes' a straight line,` j

said lower run of the` chain being with said depressions.

Witnesses:

' A."N. LURIE,

M'rcnrAmL J. STARK.

WILLIAM o. STARK.' I

prevented. from upward deflection by the engagement v'of said members In' .testimony that I claim the foregoing 

